Letter from the Principal

Thank you for your interest in learning more about our PS 295 school community. As someone who has spent a lifetime at PS 295 as a teacher, coach and now principal, I can tell you it is a special place and I look forward to sharing it with you when you enroll.

At PS 295, we are an urban school with a small community feel. We believe in nurturing the WHOLE CHILD, the WHOLE TEACHER, and the WHOLE FAMILY in order to create a collaborative and dynamic community of learners. In an effort to support this, we target a strengths-based approach highlighting what children, teachers and families excel at as our starting point. We strive to be focused but flexible, innovative and individualized.

By nurturing the whole child, we cultivate all aspects of children’s growth and development. We foster high quality academics in addition to social and emotional well-being, exposure to the arts and developing talents and physical wellness. We are committed to the growth mindset and work with this language throughout the community – to instill responsibility, perseverance and to deliver feedback effectively. This builds a sense of ownership over their own learning.

Above all, we see ourselves as advocates – every child has an advocate on their behalf in their teachers and the administration at PS 295.

Thank you again for taking the time to learn more about our school. We hope to see you in our hallways soon.

This morning we said thank you to Sergio, the Worlds Greatest Parent Coordinator. We all truly appreciate all that he does for our families; far above and beyond his daily job. Thank you! ... See MoreSee Less

Join us at Tomorrow's PTA Meeting, which will be run in English and en Español, 12/18 @ 8:30am. We’ll meet in the main lobby area after drop off at 8:30 am. Bagels and coffee provided!We'll be getting updates on the building construction and recess, hearing from the Sustainability Committee, and discussing upcoming events including the Spring Auction. ... See MoreSee Less

End-of-Year Donations for Tax Deductions: Remember PS 295 in any of your end-of-year giving plans. Many large companies offer Corporate Matching programs — ask your employer if they do and you can often double your donation. You can go to www.bit.ly/GiveToPTA (case sensitive) to make a one-time Annual Giving donation, or set up recurring payments. Checks are also welcomed! Please make payable to PS 295 Parent Teacher Association and drop off in the PTA mailbox in the main office. ... See MoreSee Less

Ms. Thompson's DonorsChoose project is halfway there! Please consider helping her Kindergarten students learn the alphabet and letter sounds. She is looking to add a Alphabet Teaching sensory tubs to the classroom - can you help us reach that goal? Please consider donating to the DonorsChoose project: bit.ly/2DM9meo... See MoreSee Less

Our book for the month of December is the story Zero by Kathryn Otoshi. In this story, Zero feels empty inside because she can’t count like other numbers. Throughout this story, Zero compares herself to the other numbers. This story teaches us that it’s our qualities on the inside that matter most. It also reminds us that everyone has qualities that make him or her valuable, special, and unique. Another story to explore by this author is One.

Books of the Month at PS 295:As a school community, we have established monthly read alouds that will support our continued initiative around inclusion and acceptance. The books were carefully chosen because they provide windows and mirrors into often underrepresented identities. They are windows for students who don’t share those identities and potential mirrors for the students who do.

This concept of windows and mirrors is not something we invented. Much research has gone into the value of people being exposed to identities other than their own (windows) and the value of seeing one’s own identity represented respectfully (mirrors). While our curriculum has included opportunities for this all along, we wanted to build on our success with school-wide books that will celebrate our culture and add to the community-feel of our school. ... See MoreSee Less